Fiona, quoting me:
To my mind, fans are much more interesting than guests,
Hm, I find them both interesting but in different ways.
I would go further and say that, in my opinion, guests can make fan-run panels/workshops function less well.
For example, at Redemption, there was a workshop on British sf press which I attended. I (in my naivete) was expecting to discuss publications such as, say, Interzone (which I used to read in my youth). Instead, Steve K had brought along a load of stuff including SFX (I honestly can't remember the other titles) which (again in my naivete) I would have dismissed as 'girlie mags'. Without exception, they seemed to focus on Buffy, or rather SMG (which by no stretch of the imagination could be called sf).
Now, we could have had the basis for an interesting discussion here, *but* also attending the panel were three guests, Andy Lane, Jane Killick and Joe Nazzaro -- all of whom write (or have written) for the SFX-type publications. All discussion of the type I might have enjoyed was instantly stifled. Instead the discussion focused on minute differences between the three (to my eyes) identical publications, and in particular on the problems of getting access to stars and writing articles where the pictures were deemed more important than the text. Interesting, perhaps, but not really much to point.
Tavia
Tavia wrote:
For example, at Redemption, there was a workshop on British sf press which I attended. I (in my naivete) was expecting to discuss publications such as, say, Interzone (which I used to read in my youth). Instead, Steve K had brought along a load of stuff including SFX (I honestly can't remember the other titles)
Dreamwatch and Starburst.
which (again in my naivete) I would have dismissed as 'girlie mags'. Without exception, they seemed to focus on Buffy, or rather SMG (which by no stretch of the imagination could be called sf).
All true. My original title for the panel was "'Loaded' With Spaceships", and it was basically because I wanted to rant about this aspect. As you no doubt gathered.
Now, we could have had the basis for an interesting discussion here, *but* [...] All discussion of the type I might have enjoyed was instantly stifled.
Sorry about that. Blame me, since I was chair. I'd like to be able to say that you should have raised other topics, but you probably did; my memory of the event is vague. By and large, I was trying to let people talk, when they were talking, and prompt additional discussion when they weren't. In retrospect, I should have involved the rest of the group more. [bad fan, no doughnut.] Will try harder next time.
Incidentally, in fairness to Andy, Jane and Joe: I kept asking Andy questions ("he's a guest; let the fans hear him"), Jane seemed content to let Andy do most of the talking, and Joe only came in near the end anyway.
Interesting, perhaps, but not really much to point.
Well, it was sort of to the point I originally raised. Glad it was at least interesting, and I'll try to be a better chair in '03.
steve
On Tue, Mar 27, 2001 at 02:33:30PM +0100, Tavia wrote:
Fiona, quoting me:
To my mind, fans are much more interesting than guests,
Hm, I find them both interesting but in different ways.
I would go further and say that, in my opinion, guests can make fan-run panels/workshops function less well.
[example snipped]
It depends on the panel/workshop, and the guests. If you can get a guest to participate in a workshop about their area of expertise, then it can be a fascinating and thrilling experience. Writers workshops with professional writers, and acting workshops with professional actors (or indeed, swordfighting workshops with professional swordmasters, to borrow an example from another fandom) can be just *brilliant*. Some of my favourite con experiences were such workshops -- writing workshop with Bjo Trimble at Eccentricon, acting workshop with Brian Croucher at Eccentricon, acting workshop with Gareth Thomas and Steven Grief at Deliverance...
Another thing I think impacts on the fannish experience is that new fen are more likely to be interested in the actors, simply because that *is* what brought them into the fandom in the first place -- seeing those people playing those parts in the show. But when you've been going to cons for fifteen years like I have (golly, that long!) then (a) one has likely already met the actors one is most interested in meeting (b) one is less awed by the prospect of meeting actors in general, because of all the practice one has already gotten. It's only logical that this should happen -- but to take this as a sign of "maturity" or to denigrate those who find meeting the actors a thrill, is completely unfair.
Kathryn Andersen -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "I left my world to wander in this endless midnight sky; for space is just a starry night where no suns ever rise." -- Dayna's song (Blake's 7: Sarcophagus [C9])
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Kathryn Andersen -
Steve Kilbane -
Tavia